Table 4 Grades of pulmonary complications

Grade 1

Cough, dry

Microatelectasis: abnormal lung findings and temperature > 37.5 °C without other

documented cause; normal chest radiograph

Dyspnea, not due to other documented cause

Grade 2^a

Cough, productive, not due to other documented cause

Bronchospasm: new wheezing or preexistent wheezing resulting in a change in therapy

Hypoxemia: SpO₂ < 90 in room air

Atelectasis: gross radiological confirmation (concordance of 2 independent experts) plus either temperature > 37.5 °C or abnormal lung findings

Hypercarbia (PaCO₂ > 50 mmHg), requiring treatment

Grade 3

Pleural effusion, resulting in thoracentesis

Pneumonia: radiological evidence (concordance of 2 independent experts) plus clinical symptoms (two of the following: leukcocytosis or leukopenia, abnormal temperature, purulent secretions), plus either a pathological organism (by Gram stain or culture), or a required change in antibiotics

Pneumothorax

Noninvasive ventilation, strictly applied to those with all of the following: (a) SpO₂ ≤ 92% under supplemental oxygen; (b) need of supplemental oxygen > 5 L/min; and (c) respiratory rate ≥ 30 bpm

Reintubation postoperative or intubation, period of ventilator dependence does not exceed 48 h

Grade 4

Ventilatory failure: postoperative ventilator dependence exceeding 48 h, or reintubation with subsequent period of ventilator dependence exceeding 48 h

Grade 5

Death